Pakistan Today
Published Date: Feb 14, 2012
SDPI HOLDS SEMINAR ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Advisor Shafqat Kakakhel said collaboration between India and Pakistan and other South Asian countries was necessary to tackle climate change. He stated that Pakistan and India must discuss and explores different vistas of cooperation as both the countries had an integrated ecological system with shared natural resources. He added that regional cooperation could help address the global warming in the area.
He said, “Water availability in the region is highly susceptible due to climate change which affects glacial melting and the monsoon system that feeds the rivers in the sub-continent.”
He added that SAARC could be instrumental and must serve as principle vehicle for sub-regional cooperation on issues related to environment, climate change and socio-economic development in the region.
“However, there is a negligible progress on translating the SAARC commitments made at the Dhaka and Thimphu Summits into practical actions, mainly due to a lack of political will, weak environmental cooperation in the region and the absence of a serious attitude of countries towards SAARC,” he added.
HBS India Country Director Axel Harneit Sievers said: “Dialogue between the two countries is essential to systematically improve relations and particularly discuss issues where both countries have a common position.”
SDPI Senior Research Associate Shakeel Ahmad Ramay briefed participants about the conferences’ objectives and goals. He said the Track-II dialogue was aimed at providing platform for experts to discuss the possibilities for cooperation and joint research-policy-action and the sharing of technology, knowledge and experiences.
Heinrich Boll Foundation India Office Programme Advisor Climate Change Sanjay Vashist said the climate change threat could be converted in to an opportunity through effective bilateral talks and coordination. He added further that climate change posed serious threats to the development process in South Asia. Earlier, a climate change documentary produced by Sustainable Development Television (SDTV) team and its editor, Tahir Dhindsa was screened. The documentary gave an overview of the state of the environment, depleting natural resources and developmental challenges while underlining the need for regional cooperation in general and between India and Pakistan in particular.